This School Banned Spaghetti Straps 2 Days Before Homecoming and Students Aren't Happy

The homecoming dance at Coeur d'Alene High School in Coeur d'Alene, Idaho was supposed to be a blast for its students, but this past weekend's festivities were dampened by a last-minute dress code that caused several students to not attend.

Only two days before the dance, parents were sent an email notice that bare shoulders and spaghetti strap dresses were not allowed, meaning many girls who had spent $100 and upwards on their dresses, had to either find a new dress or not go to the dance at all.

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CDA high school student Kara Pattee, strapless dress, pictured above, didn't meet the new dress code, and decided to cut her time at the dance short to protest the last-minute policy. "I don't want to miss out completely, but I'll probably only be there for like 20 minutes because I don't think it's right," she shared with local news station KREM.

Kara's mother, Susan Pattee, stressed that the last-minute notice was inappropriate as many dresses were non-refundable and countless parents couldn't afford to just go out and buy their daughters new ones. "What are we going to do now? Pay day is next week," Susan said. "I'm not the only one — that's money a lot of parents don't have." She also pointed out that finding a formal dress that isn't strapless or doesn't have spaghetti straps isn't easy.

As for the school district, they say the dress code has been in place since 2011. But since parents complained last year that the enforcement wasn't strict enough, they implemented the dress code with students again last spring and the update on Thursday was just a reminder. But many parents and students insist they weren't aware until they received the update.

The school district said they were just trying to maintain a safe and fun environment for the dance, but it's hard to see how Kara's perfectly tasteful dress would have made the dance any less safe or fun.

Hopefully in the future, if CDA high school insists on enforcing such a restrictive dress code targeted specifically at girls, they'll make sure everyone is aware of it well before the dance.